been visiting the 'kids'

I've been at the kids this weekend. Drove down on Thurs. They have a cute little place in So. Cal. Ain't it hard, seeing you baby in her 'own' place with her husband!

They have a new kitten, Colby Jack, who is just a cutie-pie and a terror. I must have taken 50 pics of the little guy (can you imagine if I finally do have grandkids) (is that a bugar in his nose? oh, let me get the camera!!) teehee. Oh, I did take one of the kids, too!!

DD's been working the past couple of days, but today is her day off! So, we'll see what we end up doing. I brought her some of her prints, so we may be doing a little decorating.

Last night we all had dinner at their friends' apt. They have 2 little boys, one a li'l over 1 and the other 2 weeks. One of the grandma's was there, but she let me hold the baby! Oooooooooooooohhhh, talk about adorable!!

So, the 2 peas challenge was about scrapping plans. No scrapping for me...but taking some pics of my new grandkitty, and there was talk of a game of Mexican Train.

Tomorrow, I will drive home...should be fun!! NOT!!!

my baby is 22 today!

My sweet angel is 22!
can you believe it!! I guess the miracle is that we MADE it! Do you remember James Dobson's book, the Strong Willed Child, this book was written about my dd. (the books at my bedside was this one and Dare to Discipline, and How to Make Children Mind without Losing Yours)

From the gate, she proved to be onery and strong willed. I was at a loss. The first years of her life, we were like a "rock and a hard place", a lot of butting of heads...I wanted to control her and make her the 'perfect' little girl and she was having none of that. I remember when she was @4 years old, I matter of factly told my husband that we need to find this girl a new mother, as I am simply not equipped with the needed skills!!

The turning point for us was when she was around 7, and we went to joint counselling, thank you Dr. Hoffman, anyways, I learned to 'back off', stop trying to 'control' (had to learn this with more than parenting, I was almost ocd with the control issues) and enjoy. After that I started to appreciate the 'gift' of her strong will, (she was less suseptable to peer pressure), help her develop her talents (dance, then cheer, then acting and yes, even singing) and be her biggest 'fan'.

A big complement was while initialling planning her wedding, she asked me to be her matron of honor. I told her no, I've already got my role, I'll be the one 'blubbering' in the front row...and she needed someone young and cute in the pictures with her. (by the way, she made an EXCELLENT choice with Jenn)

Now, my baby is 22 and married to the Okie. I am so excited for them. And I can't wait till she gives birth to her own 'strong willed child'...nah, for them, I'm hoping for twins!!

a scare yesterday morning...

This fellow gave me quite a scare yesterday morning. As I was geting ready for work, making my lunch, one minute, he was begging for a piece of roast beef and then the next he was dragging himself across the kitchen floor. I heard a loud noise, and I see him dragging his bottom half across the floor. Like he was paralyzed in the bottom half. I was so scared. So I called our vet, and explained what was going on...she said she had no vets (they were all out on large animal calls) so she referred me to a vet 40 minutes away. Now, by the time I was off the phone with her, Marshall, was standing...shaky but standing.

So, I call the other office and got the next appt. As soon as I am done with the phone call, Marshall is strong. I had to 'catch' him and fight him to go into the carrier...he HATES that carrier.

Marshall is @13 years old, has stopped using his box for pooh, and has been getting skinny. When he first started losing weight, back in March, I took him to the vet for tests. They all look good, no thyroid, kidney, even teeth and gum problems. He's old and skinny but healthy.

So, the vet says cuz he was alert during the incident and recovered so quickly, he really does not think this was neurological. His suspicion is that Marsh injured himself while trying to jump on something...which I have noticed that Marsh does struggle to jump up on the bed and couch. Actually, he doesn't jump anymore, he pulls himself up.

In the space of the visit, the vet called Marsh, senile (the box issue) and stubborn...its like, he sure does know Marsh!! Yup, Marsh is a stinker, but he is family and we love him. I'll continue to cater to his picky eating habits (he only wants people food) (and the vet says at this age, just give it to him) and pick up after him.

Weds, mayo or miracle whip

UGHHH!!
its morning.

After the cats woke me, I sat down at the computer and tv, and QVC is selling Murano Glass jewelry!! OH, so pretty. but I was thinking, if I bought some on QVC...then took it to Italy..would I have to pay duty as I am heading home? hmmmmmm....guess I can carry my receipt with me!

There is a sad thing about the show, the fellow kept saying that only one old man knows how to make some of the items, like the large puffy heart pendant. And while reading Rick Steves, he has a blurb about the aging of Venice. That Venice as a city is dying. The young are not staying, the buildings are falling apart...


OH, yesterday I was 'complaining' about losing my mojo with 5x7 layouts...and yesterday, I got Elsie's Recipe Box. Oooooh La La...now her style may not work for my wedding album...but I'm thinking I can modify... but now I'm excited about doing these layouts. And ain't that the definition of mojo!

Have ya'll ever thought about why you use mayo instead of miracle whip? I was recently asked that one by ds. He married a gal from Indiana, so he was asking why we as a family use mayo...I told him quite simply, because I lost that battle. I grew up in Texas, I grew up with miracle whip...but dh absolutely would not use the mw.. so I switched. Now, dd married an Okie, so she is making the switch back to mw.
(as I suspect ds is.. cuz ddil is one stubborn Indiana-in)
BUT dd was successful in switching the Okie to barstyle cheddar cheese (Tilamook, the absolute best)..as the teethmarks she found in the cheese proves.

Have you ever thought about those regional preferences?
Growing up in Texas, it was all 'coke'...since moving to CA..I'm hooked on pepsi.
DS switched to coke, the traitor, after his training months in FL and MS with the Corps. For me, now days, the only use I have for coke is if I decide to make 'coke cake'. yummmmmmmmmmm

a new crop space...

So, with dh out of town, this is what happened yesterday in the living room.
Worked out kinda nice for me. I do admit, I am enjoying having the house to myself.
Computer whenever I want, whatever tv I want, eat what I want, a nap...wearing pj's all day...yup its nice. But I'm ready for him to come home.

So far, the dogs have been behaving. Staying on the property and no carcasses. Here's to hoping they will continue...yikes...the worse part of being in 'charge'.

Okay, I'm working on my wedding album..the one for me to keep, and I'm at the 5x7 pics of families. I AM Getting Sick of scrapping 5x7's...ya'll know of any great sketches for 5x7...I mean its, "matt it, stick it in the middle and decorate around it". bleh...

OH, the scraproom tour was nice. Fun to see the color schemes, the organization and set up of all the rooms. LOVED Susan's slat walls and organization, Dorlene's vintagy items for storage, and Ashley's use of a model-home's display case, and the organization of her open closet for storage...she has a ton of paper!!

Off to start my week...but I have a plan...am hoping to go down south to see the kids this weekend. here's to hoping...

layouts from Scrapbook Expo all day crop

These are for MY wedding book...

one of those questionaires...

I 'tagged myself' from Lemons to Lemonade,

1. LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER: Momma Mia (very fun, still getting over the last scene of the guys in spandex suits...hint..don't leave the theater quickly)
2. BOOK ARE YOU READING? Sail by James Patterson
3. FAVORITE BOARD GAME? Monopoly
4. FAVORITE MAGAZINE? Scrapbooks Etc, Making Memories
5. FAVORITE SMELLS? the ground after rain, febreeze
6. FAVORITE FOODS? enchiladas (they are simply a perfect food) with lasagna a close second
7. FAVORITE SOUND? running water as in a brook or fountain
8. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? tooth pain
9. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP? UGGH!!!
10. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE? KFC/A&W combonation
11. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? Not for me! but future grandbabies are, Ava or Parker and Audrey or Aiden (though these are being re-discussed)
12. FINISH THIS STATEMENT. "IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY..."? pay off our bills, build a decent private school for this town.
13. DO YOU DRIVE FAST? Nope, I'm a total lollylagger, give myself time so I'm not in a hurry.
14. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Does dh count!! In the winter time, my cat gets under the covers.
15. STORMS-COOL OR SCARY? Cool..grew up in Houston...used to them, no fear
16. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? A 71 Camaro...loved it!!
17. FAVORITE DRINK? Pepsi
18. FINISH THIS STATEMENT, "IF I HAD THE TIME..." I would organize my home and get stuff out of storage (ha)!!
19. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI? No
20. IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? I like my natural, but would add purple/violet highlights
21. NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN: San Bernadino, CA;
Houston, TX; Rockville, MD; San Jose, CA...Patterson, CA
22. NAME ALL THE STATES/COUNTRIES YOU HAVE VISITED: geee...Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Nevada, countries: Japan, and in October will add Italy, Greece, Monaco, Turkey!!
23. GLASS - HALF EMPTY OR FULL? Half a glass (consider myself a realist)
24. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? high school sports when dd cheered. (now, NONE!!)
25. ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: I snagged this from Lemons to Lemonade, don't know much about her...except from her questionnaire.
26. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? storing stuff...old clothes, towels...gee don't know
27. TOILET PAPER - OVER OR UNDER? Under
28. SEAT UP OR DOWN? Down
29. MORNING PERSON, OR NIGHT OWL? neither, I don't get going till @10 am, but am running out of gas @9pm.
28. OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP? Over medium...not too much runniness for me
29. FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX? couch with a blankie or my swing on the back porch.
30. FAVORITE PIE? mom's chocolate pudding